Guest guest Posted March 27, 2006 Report Share Posted March 27, 2006 I found the discussion about similarities and difference between addiction and devotion interesting. As someone who has worked with people with addictions, my perspective is that addictions take away life, choice, energy. I see that devotion, to God, Guru, family, adds life, energy, hope, purpose. It is like being in love. Yes, one might renounce things such as time with some activities or people inorder to be with the beloved, might move to support a loved one or Guru, etc. But the goal and outcome I see as different from addiction. I think that spiritual longing is a difficult topic to mull over. If find that for myself, it can pull me off center when the intense longing and desire are not supported with sadhana. When I am crying for God to save me or Guru to fix me and am not doing the things I can to help my situation, then I am not able to be a positive presence in the world. I think that awakening and realization are in the now, in our actions now, in our lives now. Looking for the greener grass at the exclusion of appreciating the now can feel akin to addictive longing for a drug or person. Without sadhana, this longing can feel like planning one's life from a bar stool. In a way, we are seeking relief from both, perhaps even inspiration from both. But what is the goal? Is it a totally selfish quest for relief and freedome from suffering or will we in fact bring back our realization, our awarenesses to make this a better world. I think Linda's assessment of the differences was very astute. -Sadhumaa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 27, 2006 Report Share Posted March 27, 2006 , "sadumaa" <sadumaa wrote: > > I found the discussion about similarities and difference between > addiction and devotion interesting. As someone who has worked with > people with addictions, my perspective is that addictions take away > life, choice, energy. I see that devotion, to God, Guru, family, > adds life, energy, hope, purpose. It is like being in love. Yes, > one might renounce things such as time with some activities or > people inorder to be with the beloved, might move to support a > loved one or Guru, etc. > But the goal and outcome I see as different from addiction. > -Sadhumaa Let's call it "spiritually beneficial addiction", which I think is what JS wanted to convey. "spiritually beneficial" but could be at odds with one's current social life (Gopis' lives as an example). "beneficial addiction" in that it shows a spiral of increasing devotion. The usage of the word "addiction" is dramatic to heighten the effect of the vortex. Usage of negative words to make a dramatic point is a favorite of mine, which is why I guess I think I understand what JS is trying to say. in the end, this is all wordplay.... what matters is how your heart responds to what brings you the bliss of devotion. (and the "what" can also include words that stimulate your sense of the same). one calls it addiction; one finds it disconcerting..... ignore the effect of a word on others, follow its impact on you. Jai Ma! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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